2015

Newsroom

President Jackson Leads Million Father March

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT TO LEAD MILLION FATHER MARCH ON MONDAY IN DAYTONA BEACH

Dr. Jackson, Male Students/Staff and Men from the Community Will Welcome Students Back to School In Hopes to Give Them a Great Start to the Year

Daytona Beach, Florida – President Jackson will lead the Million Father March this year at Turie T. Small Elementary School (800 South St.) at 7 a.m., Monday, August 24th and Westside Elementary School (1210 Jimmy Ann Dr.) at 7 a.m., Monday, August 31st. Dr. Jackson and the men will greet students as they walk into the schools. The men will hold inspirational signs and give the students encouraging words as they begin their new academic year. The Million Father March is a national movement that provides an opportunity for men to show their commitment to the educational success and social development of their children on the first day of school and throughout the school year. City and school board officials are in support and will be in attendance.

“It is an honor to participate in this positive effort with the Million Father March. It is our duty as a community-based university to be involved in any way that we can. I am so pleased that our students, staff and faculty will be there, as well,” says President Jackson.

The Black Star Project, who launched the Million Father March effort, reports on the various benefits of having a father or father figure present in a child’s life. According to the Black Star Project, a few facts are:

A father who actively participates in the educational and social-emotional developmental life of a child is invaluable and irreplaceable.

Research shows that children whose fathers take active roles in their educational lives earn better grades, score higher on tests, enjoy school and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.

Children have fewer behavioral problems when fathers speak and listen to them regularly.

The Million Father March will happen in various cities around the country. The Black Star Project expects 700 cities and 1,100,000 men to participate. It is a growing effort and B-CU plans to participate for years to come.

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About Bethune Cookman University:

Founded in 1904 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) today sustains her legacy of faith, scholarship and service through its relationship with the United Methodist Church and its commitment to academic excellence and civic engagement. B-CU offers 38 degrees on its main campus and online college. Located in Daytona Beach, B-CU is one of three private, historically black colleges in the state of Florida. The institution boasts a diverse and international faculty and student body of nearly 4,000. For more information, visit www.cookman.edu.